©portarthurphoto.com - Inside the main coridor of the Seperate Prison at Port Arthur

Port Arthur contains one of the best preserved examples of a Separate Prison system based on that at Pentonville Prison in London. Also known as The Model Prison was completed in 1853 and extended in 1855. The 80 cell prison was built in the shape of a cross with radial exercise yards around a central hall and chapel. It signalled a shift from physical punishment to psychological punishment as it was thought that the hard corporal punishment, such as whippings, used in other penal stations only served to harden criminals, and did nothing to turn them from their immoral ways. Under this system of punishment the “Silent System” was implemented in the building. Here prisoners were hooded and made to stay silent, this was supposed to allow time for the prisoner to reflect upon the actions which had brought him there.